2019 has just started and this is our first “deals of the week” post. I went through the current deals on our partners’ websites and selected the top offers currently available, which I think could be interesting for you.
Please note that some of those deals are limited in time!
The B&H offers listed are for our readers based in North and South America and CVP’s offers are for our readers based in Europe. By shopping at our affiliate partners’ stores you are supporting cinema5D through our buy links, as we get a small affiliate commission when a purchase is completed.
B&H: Litepanels Astra Bi-Focus Daylight LED Panel – Now $949 ($547 savings)
When it comes to LED lights, there is little need to introduce Litepanels. If pricing was your obstacle for getting this daylight panel, then I’m sure that the reduced cost can help with biting the bullet. By The Way, if your preferred option is a Bi Color LED panel, then the Litepanels Astra 3X Bi-Color LED Panel is also on a special deal now for $764.95 instead of $1,045 ($280.05 savings)
B&H: Spekular Travel Kit – Now $486 ($211 savings)
Speaking of light and innovation, I hope you heard about Spekular. This young company signed modularity on its flag and as such, it is simply amazing what you can do and achieve when working with their kit (Read Graham’s review by clicking here). It is worth mentioning that their 2 other sets are now on special sale too. The Interview Kit is being sold for $417 ($181 savings) and the Full Star Kit is being sold for $866 ($231 savings)
B&H: Core SWX HyperCore 98 Gold Mount Battery – Now $234 ($88 savings)
Core SWX managed to position itself as a reputable company which produces quality products and the HyperCore 98 battery is no exception. It is powerful, accurate (the display shows exactly how much is left down to a minute and the D-tap on the battery helps a ton). Oh and when you are stuck with a power drained mobile phone, the built-in USB for charging cells might come to the rescue.
B&H: FUJIFILM X-T2 Mirrorless Camera Body with Hand Grip Kit – Now $1,099 ($629.99 savings)
True, the FUJIFILM X-T2 is an ageing camera, yet for some customers, in that price point, it might prove to be the perfect companion. Read my full original X-T2 review and see the short documentary I shot by clicking here. AND the camera got a significant firmware update during May 2018. It brought F-Log and high frame recording (120fps in Full HD). See my re-evaluation of the camera after installing the new firmware update by clicking here. As a side note, if you are new to FUJIFILM and looking for purchasing the X-T2 with its 18-55mm kit lens, then this combination is now on special sale too.
B&H: FUJIFILM X-H1 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body with Battery Grip Kit – Now $1,299.95 ($329.99 savings)
Moving one step up in the FUJIFILM APS-C camera line and the X-H1 can be proved to be an an excellent purchasing choice. Its main advantage over the other offerings from FUJIFILM is the built-in body stabilisation system. (Read my full review and see some sample footage by clicking here). It is worth mentioning that the camera just got a new firmware update which allows continuous recording in order to overcome the 4GB single video file limitation.
B&H: FUJIFILM X-T3 Mirrorless Camera with 18-55mm Lens – Now $1,699 ($200 savings)
It’s not for nothing that we chose the FUJIFILM as the camera of the year 2018. (See our article by clicking here). This one is simply a very enjoyable and capable working tool for both, photographers and filmmakers. FUJIFILM did a marvellous job (and a huge jump forward) by introducing this little gem. (See my camera review and sample footage by clicking here).
The X-T3’s only noticeable obstacle is the absence of internal body stabilisation so in order to somehow compensate on it, this particular offering might appeal for many. Equipped with the 18-55mm kit lens, it can become a nice “All-round Street Camera”. If you already own some more advanced FUJIFILM lenses and are looking into upgrading your camera to the X-T3, then this “body only” special offer will save you $100.
CVP our European partner together with Sony and Panasonic now offer “Cash Back” on selected Sony and Panasonic products
CVP: SONY A6500 – price after cash back ex VAT: €901.21 (Original price: €1,177.38)
If you are after a very small yet capable filming option, then look no further. The Sony A6500 might be the right tool for you. See my review and video sample by clicking here.
CVP: SONY 18-110mm f/4 – price after cash back ex VAT: €2,654.85 (Original price: €2,977.05)
Back in 2017 we reviewed the Sony 18-110mm f/4 lens and our conclusion was very favourable. If you take in account what this lens can do, its size, focal length and modest price, if documentary shooting is your style or you are a news shooter, then this offering might appeal to you. Mind you that the lens minimum focus distance or “fly by wire” zoom function is not ideal so please test before deciding if it is the right tool for you.
CVP: PANASONIC GH5S – price after cash back ex VAT: €1,579.29 (Original price: €1,809.43)
Panasonic is known to be listening to its potential customers so bringing the GH5S to the market was no surprise. If you are looking for a very capable camera which beside its high data rate and 10bit internal recording boosts an improved lowlight capability, then this camera is absolutely a valid option. Mind you that unlike with the GH5, this model does not have an internal body stabilisation system. (See my review and sample footage from the camera by clicking here and Nino’s Lowlight comparison to the original GH5 by clicking here).
Did you like this week’s deals? Did you pick something to extend your arsenal, or are your funds still depleted from end of the year spendings? Let us know in the comments!

When you invest in a new camera, the camera itself is just a part of the equation. With more and more camera accessories that require power, like a wireless follow focus or a monitor, there is something that we tend to under-estimate: batteries and power distribution. But how do you power a Canon C200 or C300 Mark II – they both use the same Canon batteries and Lemo power connectors – with a V-Mount or Anton Bauer battery? Let’s take a look.
Canon Batteries
When you buy a Canon C200, amongst the other accessories, it comes with the original battery charger, the AC adapter, and one Canon BP-A30. While the battery life is decent, around 2 to 3 hours per battery, I bought a second one, just in case. A month later, I realized that two batteries were not enough for a full 12 hours shoot day.
Then, I remembered how painful it was to spend nearly $250 for a single Canon BP-A30 battery. Don’t get me wrong; Canon BP-A batteries are excellent when you need your setup to be as compact and lightweight as possible. I love them for gimbal setups or when I’m shooting run’n’gun. The thing is that these batteries are not cheap, and there are no 3rd party manufacturers (yet) for Canon BP-A batteries.
Of course, you can also buy the Canon BP-A60, the larger version of the BP-A30 that last 4 to 5 hours, but I don’t like the fact that it “protrudes” at the back of the camera. And let’s be honest, it’s even more expensive than the BP-A30 at nearly $430.
With that in mind, I started to look at other powering options. I have quite a few V-Mount batteries at the office that I mainly use to power LED lights. So I decided to take a look and see how I could power the Canon C200 with a V-Mount.
V-Mount Advantages
Disclaimer: I use V-Mount batteries because that’s what I invested in, Anton Bauer Gold Mount batteries are excellent too, and everything that is mentioned here also applies to Gold Mount batteries.
The goal of this article is not to tell you all of the benefits to go the V-Mount way. To sum it up, I decided to power my camera with an external battery for these reasons:
Economy: for the price of one Canon BP-A30 battery, I can buy a V-Mount battery that will run the camera much longer
V-Mount batteries are future-proof: if I decide to change my camera in one year, I can still use them to power anything from a DSLR to a full Cinema Camera, they are not proprietary like the Canon ones
Easy to rent: if you have a gig at the other side of the world and can’t bring enough 98Wh batteries, or need something bigger, you can always rent an extra battery for cheap
Ease of use: you can use a V-Mount battery to power an entire camera system with a battery power distribution box or plate via the D-Tap ports. You can power external monitors, wireless follow focus, wireless microphones, wireless video transmitters and even charge your phone with only one battery. When you run out of juice, you only have to swap that one battery and you’re ready to go
Versatility: you can also use a V-Mount battery to power LED lights, your sound bag, your laptop…etc
Of course, there are some drawbacks in using V-Mount batteries — for example, the weight, the initial cost when you start investing in these because you also need to buy a battery charger, and the fact that you are “limited” when traveling by plane. Nothing is perfect.
V-Mount Power Distribution
Most of the V-Mount batteries have one built-in D-Tap port, but it’s usually not enough.
To power a camera – and more specifically the Canon C200 / C300 Mark II – you need a V-Mount battery power distribution box. This type of box or plates converts one battery into multiple D-Taps ports.
For a Canon C200 and/or C300 Mark II camera, you have to use the Lemo connection at the bottom of the camera to get power from an external source. You’ll need to use one of the D-Tap port from the distribution box (or the battery) to power the camera using a dedicated D-Tap to Lemo cable.
Also, you can mount a distribution box to a cheese plate so you can install everything – the distribution box and the battery – onto your camera rig using 15/19mm rods.
Searching for the right plate that fits my needs and at the right price was a challenge, so here are my foundings.
Bebob Coco-15V III
The Bebob Coco-15V III is a beast of a power distribution box. It features:
2 Twist-D-Tap 12V (unregulated) 2,5 A ports. These D-Tap ports are amazing because they are reversible. It means that you can plug your cable in any direction you want and you avoid frying your expensive gear by putting you D-Tap cable in the wrong direction. It happened to me once on set, and it’s not fun at all
2 USB 5V 1A ports. Useful for smartphones or accessories that gets power through USB
3 Hirose 4p 5V /7,6 od. 8,4/12V (unregulated) 2A. The industry standard
1 Lemo
It weighs 400 grams and it’s made of aluminum. A 15mm rod clamp (re-positionable) is included. I also like the fact that there is an On/Off switch. You can switch off the entire plate when not in use to avoid accessories draining power from the battery.
To power a C200/C300 MkII camera you’ll need a special Hirose to Lemo cable, that is available at Bebob for $130.
At over $500 for the plate only (at B&H), or just over €400 (at CVP), plus the price of the cable, it’s not the cheapest solution, but the build quality and the numerous ports look like a one in a lifetime investment.
This plate was my initial go-to. Unfortunately, it was out of stock, and I needed a solution for an upcoming shoot.
Wooden Camera WC Pro V-Mount for Canon C200, C200B, C300 MkII
This plate looks like a robust alternative. Made by Wooden Camera in conjunction with Anton Bauer, the WC Pro V-Mount plate features 3 D-Tap ports and an integrated 12″ length Lemo cable. I like the fact that there is a red light indicating power and also a digital fuse, in case you plugged your D-Tap cable in the wrong direction.
With this type of plate, you’ll need a cheese plate if you want to mount it on your 15mm rig. Wooden Camera sells it’s own, but you can easily find cheaper options online. For example, I had one laying around from Lanparte.
What I don’t like about this plate is the fact that the cable is at the bottom of the plate and is facing down. I think it’s a design flaw, as you can easily damage the cable. This plate is camera specific and is not cheap too at $350 for the plate at B&H alone (€300 at CVP).
Wooden Camera WC V-Mount Plate for Canon C200, C200B, C300 MkII
The Wooden Camera WC V-Mount is a little bit cheaper than the “Pro” version. I think that this plate is entirely made by IDX and just sold by Wooden Camera, but the original IDX plate is not available anymore.
It features 2 D-Tap ports for accessory power and an integrated 12″ length Lemo cable. Like the previous plate, you’ll need a cheese plate to mount it to your rig. It’s available for $225 at B&H.
Core SWX V-Mount Battery Plate for Canon C300 Mark II
Also compatible with the Canon C200, the Core SWX V-Mount battery plate was initially designed for the Canon C300 Mark II. Regarding features, it’s equivalent at the WC V-Mount plate: 2 D-Tap ports and an integrated cable.
It’s a pretty cheap alternative at only $166.
Shape V-Mount Plate for Canon C200, C300 Mark II
The Shape V-Mount plate for C200/C300 Mark II cameras is pretty similar to the WC/Core SWX options, but with only one just D-Tap port.
This plate is available on B&H, and a cheese plate version is also available.
Hedbox Unix-1B4
After hours of research, I discovered the Hedbox Unix-1B4. It looked like the perfect fit for my needs, but it was the first time I came across Hedbox products, so I was a bit skeptical. But even if Hedbox is “new” to the market, the team behind it is not, because Hedbox is formerly known as RedPro.
This plate features 3 D-Tap ports, capable of delivering up to 12V ~ 16.8V / 10A / 148W (Max) unregulated. On top of the plate, there is a USB port (5V – 2.1A). Finally, on the right side, you’ll find an integrated Lemo cable.
This plate is top-notch quality, with a V-Lock release system made of aluminum. The plastic doesn’t feel cheap at all, and the cable integration feels robust.
They also manufacture a lot of other plates for BM, Sony, Canon LP-E6 cameras and so on.
For $150, it’s the best bang for your bucks deal out there in my opinion. It’s unfortunately not on B&H or CVP, but you can buy it here directly.
Do you use V-Mount batteries to power your camera and accessories? What is your go-to solution? Let us know in the comments down below!

CORE SWX first introduced their highest capacity Li-Ion battery, the Hypercore XL, in July this year. Coming in both, V-Mount and Gold Mount, it offers 293Wh capacity, 15A draw and all the features of the Hypercore series. We talked with Zack Shannon from CORE SWX during IBC about this massive battery and its features.
The Hypercore XL is a 293Wh (14.8V, 19800 mAh) capacity battery pack with the ability to support up to 20A loads (continuous 15A load draw, 20A peak for 2seconds). With these specifications, it is the highest capacity as well as highest load outputting battery offered within the Hypercore lineup. Its normal runtime (based on 25W load) is 11.7 hours.
As with all Hypercore offerings, the Hypercore XL battery pack is available in both, V-Mount and Gold Mount. The battery includes all the features that are present in the rest of the Hypercore line: a backlit LCD, Powertap (P-tap) and USB connectors, storage mode and compatible charging.
The multipurpose backlit runtime LCD on the front side of the battery delivers information on the remaining runtime and charge time, down to the minute. The runtime information should be very accurate, as it is based on a built-in fuel computer. It will also give an estimation based on a dummy load of 30W, when in standby (disconnected from any device). For no- or low-light situations, a light can be activated by pressing a button next to the display. There is also a simple 4-stage LED display on the side of the battery, which indicates leftover battery capacity.
Each battery is outfitted with an accelerometer to detect motion. The accelerometer is tied to a clocking algorithm to gauge how long the battery is not in use. One of the issues with all battery packs is self-discharge when not in use. Hypercore battery packs go to sleep or hibernate when there is no battery usage or movement after a 48hr period. The LCD shuts down as well, to preserve the state of charge. Once movement is detected, the battery pack awakens at its maximum capacity.
The Hypercore XL battery has an integrated, unregulated P-tap connection on the side of the battery, allowing users to power any device accepting 12-16.8V DC. In addition, it incorporates a USB 5V power output. Its lithium-ion battery cells are incased in an over-molded, rubberized housing. The case provides additional protection against accidental impact and the rubber texture reduces the chance of the battery slipping out of users’ hands.
CORE SWX chargers can charge the Hypercore XL batteries in around 4.5 hours using their rapid charge technology with 3A charging output. The batteries are, however, also compatible with other chargers – the Gold Mount version of the Hypercore XL is compatible with Anton/Bauer chargers firmware V3.6 and up, and the V-Mount version is compatible with SonyTM, IDXTM, and many other chargers.
The Hypercore XL battery pack weighs 3.4lbs (1.54kg) and has a size of 3.8” x 5.87” x 2.95”.
What do you think of these new Li-Ion batteries? Are you using such high capacity batteries on set? Let us know in the comments below.

Core SWX introduced their new battery packs – presented at NAB 2018: The universal and lightweight Powerbase EDGE and their first NiMH Gold Mount battery pack – the Hydracore 100.
Core SWX, the US company specializing in power solutions for cameras have introduced a couple of new products at this year’s NAB. Among those innovations are the universal Powerbase EDGE battery as well as their first NiMH brick battery pack, the Hydracore 100.
Powerbase EDGE
This interesting battery solution follows the path of its highly successful predecessor, the Powerbase 70, which has been introduced eight years ago. According to Core SWX the new Powerbase is packed with more features while being smaller than the original one.
The capacity of the Lithium-ion Powerbase EDGE is 49Wh (14.8V DC, 3.3Ah) and it is keeping the versatility of offering two mounting options, while being 30% smaller than the Powerbase 70. Mounting is possible via V-Mount for cine cameras such as RED or Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini cameras, as well as the 1/4-20 screw mount for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, such as the Panasonic GH5.
In addition, the Powerbase EDGE has 2 USBs and 2 Power-Taps (one of them being a SmartTap), as well as a runtime LCD for users to see the exact battery expectancy in minutes. It also features a quick release plate for fast detachment from the camera or rig.
Powerbase EDGE Key Specs:
Capacity: 49Wh (14.8V DC, 3.3Ah)
Size: 5.1” x 3.6” x 1.55” (12.95 x 9.14 x 3.94 cm)
Weight: 1.3lbs (0.59kg).
Normal Runtime: approx. 8.25 hours (Sony A7 w/o accessories )
Max Continuous Load: 8A
Hydracore 100
The Hydracore 100 is the first brick battery pack created by Core SWX that uses NiMH technology. The idea behind this product is to provide an unregulated, travel friendly battery solution. Being a Nickel-based pack and not Lithium, the Hydracore 100 doesn’t apply to the restrictive air shipping and travel guidelines, allowing users to carry multiple packs in their carry-on luggage. The Hydracore 100 is aimed at the traditional broadcast market and therefore has a Gold Mount, supporting up to a 10A load with 100Wh of power.
Weighing 3.3lbs (1.5kg) and measuring 3.8″ x 5.87″ x 2.95″ (9.65 x 14.91 x 7.49 cm), the Hydracore 100 is 2lbs lighter and 20% smaller than most common batteries in the NiMH segment, according to Core SWX. The pack was designed to be fully compatible with Anton/Bauer chargers to ensure it will integrate into customers’ diverse battery fleets. This battery pack is equipped with a p-tap, USB, and runtime LCD.
Hydracore 100 battery pack. Source: Core SWX
There is no information on pricing or availability for these new power packs yet.
Do you have experience with the older Powerbase 70? Do you like using some kind of external power source with a DSLR or mirrorless? Let us know in the comments below.

Working with a small(ish) camcorder like the Panasonic EVA1 can be very useful. However, these cameras are powered by small batteries that usually don’t provide juice for external devices such as monitors. Meet the Nano-VBR98 by Core SWX, a battery that does just that.
Credit: the arrow is designed by Freepik.
The Nano-VBR98 battery has a standard D-Tap socket, which may seem like a simple idea, but it has a tremendous effect because no additional external power source needs to be attached to the camera. The rig remains small and compact, while still being capable of powering an external viewfinder or monitor. Neat! (BTW, SWIT has a similar solution for powering some of the Sony’s popular Camcorders.).
Core SWX Nano-VBR98 Battery
The Nano-VBR98 battery comes in a familiar shape that will fit a number of Panasonic cameras, such as the popular EVA1. The twist, however, is the aforementioned additional D-Tap socket, which adds the kind of functionality found on larger V-mount or Anton Bauer batteries.
The Nano-VBR98 has plenty of capacity. With 98Wh (7.4v, 12300mah), this battery should keep your Panasonic EVA1 going for up to 5 hours. When powering an external monitor, this number will decrease, obviously. The D-Tap socket delivers standard 12V so all your accessories should work just fine with it.
Specifications
The Core SWX model has some major advantages over the stock Panasonic battery: it offers more capacity, it’s cheaper and features that handy D-Tap socket! Here is a full rundown of the Nano-VBR98 specs:
98Wh, 12300mAh Battery Pack
For EVA1 & Select Panasonic Cameras
12V 2A SMBUS D-Tap Powers Accessories
4-LED Power Gauge
5-Hour Average EVA1 Runtime
The Nano-VBR98 is available now and it’s well worth a closer look if you’re a proud Panasonc EVA1 owner. Hopefully, Core SWX will expand their line of D-Tap-enabled batteries even further. I’d love to see a Canon C300 Mk II compatible battery soon!
Links: Core SWX website
What do you think? Will this product render your V-mount plate obsolete or do you need more power than this? Share your thoughts int he comments below!